Pilgrim Talks: Scott Kavanaugh

November 30th, 2011

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Scott Kavanaugh

CEO of First Foundation, Inc., Chairman and CEO of First Foundation Bank

Scott Kavanaugh brings proven entrepreneurial executive leadership and a strong knowledge of finance, banking and real estate to First Foundation and its affiliates. In his role as the CEO of First Foundation, he is responsible for providing strategic leadership and overseeing the operations of both First Foundation Advisors and First Foundation Bank.

Mr. Kavanaugh was formerly an Executive Vice President and Director of Secondary Marketing for Provident Funding. Mr. Kavanaugh was a founding stockholder of Commercial Capital BanCorp and served as Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer from June 1999 to February 2003. Mr. Kavanaugh also served as Director, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Commercial Capital Mortgage since its formation in 1998 until 2003. During his tenure, the bank grew over 400% and was successfully taken public in December 2002. Other responsibilities included management of interest rate risk, Director of Human Resources, Director of the Trust Department, and negotiation of loan transactions, loan review, and oversight of operations in the mortgage company. He was Chairman of ALCO, and a member of Executive, Compliance, Information Technology, Loan and Internal Asset Review committees.

Since January 2000, Mr. Kavanaugh has served as Independent Trustee and Chairman of Audit Committee for all Highland Funds managed by Highland Capital Management, L.P. Highland is a Registered Investment Advisor specializing in credit and alternative investment strategies currently managing leveraged loans, high yield bonds, structured products and other assets.

Prior to entering banking, Mr. Kavanaugh spent a majority of his career in investment banking. After becoming a partner of Great Pacific Securities, Inc., a west coast-based regional firm, Mr. Kavanaugh became Head of Trading for fixed income and equity securities.

Mr. Kavanaugh earned a BS in Business Administration - Accounting at the University of Tennessee and a MBA in Information Systems at North Texas State University.